Daily Mass Gospel Reflection- The Saintly Path

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 11.01.21 | Aux. Bishop R. Barron

[MurphsLaw]

Solemnity of All Saints

Matthew 5:1-12a

Friends, our Gospel for today is one of the most beautiful and important in the New Testament: the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, the eight Beatitudes. Why is it so important? Because it is the Son of God telling us how to be happy. It is the one who can’t be wrong telling us how to achieve that which each of us most basically wants. What could be more compelling?

At the heart of Jesus’ program are these Beatitudes: “Blessed are the merciful” and “Blessed are the peacemakers.” These name the very heart of the spiritual program, for they name the ways that we participate most directly in the divine life.

One of the most important words to describe God in the Old Testament is chesed (tender mercy). The New Testament version of this is found in the first letter of John: God is agape (love). Everything else we say about God should be seen as an aspect of this chesed and this agape. Chesed is compassion; agape is willing the good of the other. Therefore, if you want to be happy, desire to be like God. Do it and you’ll be happy.

[MurphsLaw]

REV 7:
Then one of the elders spoke up and
said to me,
“Who are these wearing white robes,
and where did they come from?”
I said to him, “My lord, you are the
one who knows.”
He said to me,
“These are the ones who have
survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the Blood
of the Lamb.”

Gospel

+++When Jesus saw the crowds, he
went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his
disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of
heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and
thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown
mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called
children of God.

Blessed are they who are
persecuted for the sake of
righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of
heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult
you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil
against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be
great in heaven.”+++